King Nebuchadnezzar required his officials to worship a golden statue, testing their loyalty to him over God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the idol and were sentenced to death by fire. They told the king they would not worship any god other than their God, even if it meant death. When thrown into the furnace, they were unharmed, and a fourth figure resembling God's son was with them. Their faith and refusal to compromise their beliefs even in the face of death provides an example for Christians facing persecution at the end times.

1. FROM FURNACE TO PALACE
Lesson 4

3. The worshipped image. Daniel 3:1-7 / Apocalipsis 13:14, 18
The death decree. Daniel 3:8-15 / Apocalipsis 13:15
The test of fire. Daniel 3:16-18 / Apocalipsis 13:16-17
The liberation. Daniel 3:19-27 / Apocalipsis 14:1; 15:2
Faith that overcomes. 1 John 5:4
King Nebuchadnezzar required proof of his
government official’s loyalty. He made
them worship a golden statue.
At the End Time, the civil governments will
also impose religious duties.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were
faithful subjects of the king. However, they
couldn’t disobey God. They decided to
remain faithful to God and their faith, even
if they’d be killed for that.

4. Nimrod founded Babylon with the intention
of building a long-lasting name and kingdom
(Genesis 10:10; 11:2-9).
Daniel bear witness of God before
Nebuchadnezzar, but the king’s pride didn’t
let him accept that his golden kingdom
would give way to a different silver kingdom.
Therefore, he built a golden statue to
proclaim that his kingdom would be
everlasting.
Its dimensions were not based in perfection
(7), but in the Babylon system (sexagesimal,
60).
The image that will be created at the End
Time will also be related with the number 6
(666, the number of a man).

5. “and whoever does not fall down and worship shall
be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
(Daniel 3:11)
There was an atmosphere of worship. The
worshipping crowd bowed down before
the magnificent statue (27 m. / 90 ft. high)
while melodious instrumental music was
playing.
Why not go with the flow? Why not
compromise just once? Why not avoid
death for such an insignificant matter?
We’re constantly being encouraged to
compromise: to adopt a new lifestyle, new
ideologies… in short, to abandon our
commitment to God.
If we compromise in calm moments, how
could we remain faithful when we face a
death sentence if we don’t worship the
way we’re told?

6. “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to
deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will
deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be
known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the
gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18)
The king was magnanimous and gave them a
second chance. A second temptation for them.
“Could any god save you from death?” (v. 15).
“Our God is able” (v. 17).
They weren’t completely sure God would
deliver them, but they remained faithful to
Him.
The behavior of the young men could’ve gone
unnoticed, but their enemies spitefully accused them.
The accusation was this: Although they had built trust
before the king, they actually didn’t serve his gods
and weren’t obeying his order to worship the statue.

7. “‘Look!’ he answered, ‘I see four men loose, walking in
the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the
form of the fourth is like the Son of God.’”
(Daniel 3:25)
Jesus appeared several times as a human to encourage His children. However, the
believers have not always been encouraged or delivered.
Isaiah was sawn
Zechariah died by the altar
John the Baptist died in
prison
James was beheaded
He appeared to Abraham
before destroying Sodom
He appeared to Jacob in his
time of trouble
He appeared to Joshua
before conquering Jericho
He appeared to the three
men in the fiery furnace
No matter our time of trouble, Jesus will give us victory eventually
if we remain faithful to Him (1 Corinthians 15:55).

8. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is
the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4)
What’s the secret of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s faith?
True faith depends on the quality of our relationship with god
and our trust in Him. That’s a faith that doesn’t try to adjust
God’s will to our lives, but subdues ourselves to do God’s will.
Faith involves doing the right thing no matter the consequences.
We show real faith when we pray to the Lord for what we want but trust Him
to do what’s best for us, even if we don’t understand it.

9. “The season of distress before God’s
people will call for a faith that will
not falter. His children must make it
manifest that He is the only object of
their worship, and that no
consideration, not even that of life
itself, can induce them to make the
least concession to false worship. To
the loyal heart the commands of
sinful, finite men will sink into
insignificance beside the word of the
eternal God. Truth will be obeyed
though the result be imprisonment
or exile or death…”
E.G.W. (Prophets and Kings, cp. 41, p. 512)

10. “As in the days of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, so in the closing period of earth’s
history the Lord will work mightily in behalf of
those who stand steadfastly for the right. He who
walked with the Hebrew worthies in the fiery
furnace will be with His followers wherever they
are. His abiding presence will comfort and sustain.
In the midst of the time of trouble—trouble such
as has not been since there was a nation—His
chosen ones will stand unmoved. Satan with all
the hosts of evil cannot destroy the weakest of
God’s saints. Angels that excel in strength will
protect them, and in their behalf Jehovah will
reveal Himself as a ‘God of gods,’ able to save to the
uttermost those who have put their trust in Him.”
E.G.W. (Prophets and Kings, cp. 41, p. 513)

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